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Meanwhile, Mexico's government is expressing anger at the treatment of Mexicans in China over fears of the H1N1 swine flu virus, and has advised its citizens to avoid traveling to the Asian nation.
Mexican Foreign Minister Patricia Espinosa said Saturday China had taken "unjustified" actions against Mexicans. She said Mexican citizens who are showing no signs of being ill are being isolated in China.
Chinese officials say they want to quarantine more than 100 passengers who were on board a flight with a Mexican who tested positive for the flu virus.
The plane stopped in Shanghai before arriving in Hong Kong last Thursday. China has canceled all flights between Mexico and Shanghai. In Hong Kong, authorities have quarantined for a week 200 guests and 100 staff of a hotel where the Mexican patient stayed. Some of those at the hotel have expressed frustration over the quarantine.
Elsewhere in East Asia, South Korea says it has confirmed its first case of the H1N1 swine flu virus.
South Korea's Yonhap news agency said Saturday a 51-year-old woman who recently visited Mexico tested positive for the virus. She was the country's first confirmed case of the new flu virus.
New Zealand on Friday raised its number of confirmed cases to four with 12 more probable infections and 116 suspected cases of swine flu. Many Asian countries have large stockpiles of anti-viral flu drugs and other containment measures that were put in place following the SARS and bird flu outbreaks.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP. By VOA News
Posted May 3rd, 2009 by Armen Hareyan
